Newly installed Staghorn Fern, Live Oak at the entrance to Pineneedle Village
When Dave, a Woodlawn Village neighbor, offered sections of a magnificent Staghorn Fern that adorns a glorious Live Oak next to their unit, Betsy and I went right over.
(This was three or four weeks ago.)
While there, brothers Dave and Steve told us the story about their mom Geralee who was a gardener and wildlife advocate who first lived in their unit with their dad: thirty years ago she placed a small Staghorn on a board and hung it on a Live Oak. I also learned that Betty D. in our neighborhood was a good friend of Geralee. Small world.
So, Dave and Steve wanted to share this memory of their mom.
Dave is a resource for information and awareness about nature and Wildewood's habitat. He cut off 4 basal fronds or "pups" and we placed them in a bag.
Then the Grounds Committee brainstormed where to place them.
Using a tall ladder, Betsy and Jim and Walter and Lois attached them in four different places in our neighborhood. A photograph of one is above along with an invitation that on your next walk, in Where's Waldo? fashion, you look for the others! Have fun. And a huge thank you to Dave and Steve for this generous idea.
In a similar way three years ago, the Grounds Committee began an Adopt-an-Orchid program. In celebration, honor, or memory of others, orchids are attached to trees as inspired by Selby Gardens.
Selby Gardens, Photo credit
I just paused to count the orchids (in my memory) in WW2A - 27.
UPDATE: Betsy and Jim walked around and counted them. There are 34!
This is a time when many bloom (end of March, early April), though they bloom at various times throughout the year. Here are a few photographs from this week. And, here are links for information about the orchid program HERE and spectacular past blooms HERE.
(Some people ask how to get on a list for Wildewood Wonders. It's easy - sign up in the sidebar, right column when using the website view.)
